Door opening and closing device



Feb. 7, 1928.

W. M. DUNMORE DOOR OPENING AND CLOSING DEVICE 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed latch 24. 1924 x mw m al 't'ia positions.

Patented Feb, 7, 1928 WILLIAM M. DUNMOEE, 015 CLAREMONT, NEW' HAMPSHIRE.

DOOR OPENING CLOSING DEVICE.

Application filed March 24, 1924. Serial No. 701,591.

My invention relates to door opening and closing devices.

It has for its object to provide an improved door openingv and closing device and more particularly an improved device of this character adapted to be controlled by an object moving along the passageway which the door controls. A moi.'e..particular object of my invention is to provide improved door opening cially adapted to and closing mechanism espeand whereby the doors may use on garages or the like be opened or closed as desired automatically as a machine moves into or out of the garage, my improved mechanism comprising a simple ant inexpensive device adapted to be applied to the standard type of door, and to be disposed in such manner as to permit free movement of the car. These and other objects and advantages of my invention will hereinafter more fully appear.

in the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of illustration one form which my invention n ay assume in practice.

In these drawings,

Fig. 1 is plan view partially in section of a door equipped with my improvement showing the former in closed and open Fig. 2 is a side elevation partially. in section of the same mechanism.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view'of side operating element.

Fig. 4.-

a side elevation of the same partiallv in section.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the outside operating element, an abutment on a car axle being shown in one position relative thereto.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the same element.

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the outside element.

the in Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the same showing the operative and inoperative positions of its operating member.

In this illustrative construction I have sllowu my invention applied to a garage,

generally indicated 1, having swinging doors 2 and 3 pivoted at their outer edges on vertically disposed pivots or hinges a in a usual manner and arranged so-thatthe doors may open outward. operative connections, hereinaftermore fully described and including an outside unit 5 and an inside unit 6 adapted to be controlled by a machin being conto these'doors and operated to cause 7 portion standing operating member the doors to be opened when a machine approaches the same, closed after the machine has entered the garage, opened as the machine moves out of the garage, and closed after the machine has left the garage.

Referring more particularly to these operative connections, it will be noted that each of the doors 2 and'3 is connected to a link or operating member 7 lying flat on the bottom of the garage substantially throughout its length and having an upwardly extending portion 8 pivotally connected at 9 to a suitable bracket on the door. As shown, each of these members 7 also has a bent-up 10 on its opposite end pivotally con nected as at 11 to the same longitudinally disposed member 12, herein having a rack member 13 attached thereto by suitable means as by bolts 14; and movable longitudinally of a suitable guide or frame 15, suitably fiXGCl in posit-ion on the floor of the gara e. As illustrated, a pinion 16 journaled at 17 in the frame engages this rack 13 and also a corresponding rack 18 longitudinally slidable in the bottom of the guide 15 and connected at its front end, as at 19, to a rod 20. Herein, this rod 20 also has a depressed portion 21 likewise lying on the floor of the garage and connected at its outer end, i. e. at a point outside the doors when closed and suitablyspaced therefrom by such a distance as to permit the doors to open freely, with a raised portion 22 which in turn extends longitudinally of a guide frame 23 generally similar to the guide 15, the front end 24: of the member20. being freely slidable and guided by this member 23. Herein it will be noted that a. normally up- 25 is pivoted as at 26 in a bifurcated member 27 in turn carried on a member 28 suitably attached to the member at as by bolts 29. It will further be noted that this operating member or trip 25 extends a substantial distance above-its pivot so that it may be thrown about its pivot by amachine, as for example by engagement with the front axle thereof .or with a suitable abutment 30 adapted to be carried by the axle 31 thereof. Herein, the member 30 is suitably attached to that axle by meansof bolts 32 and a cooperating clamping plate 33 on the opposite side of the axle from the member 30. Attention is here also directed to the fact that the base of the member 25 is enlargedin opposite d1- rections as shown and that it is supported the doors 2 and3 the-outward movement of therack at one end on one extremity of a longitudinally extending member 34: attached to suitable cross pins on the guide 23and disposed longitudinally of the latter. The opposite end of the bottom of the member 25 is in turn seated on the upturned hooked end 36 ot a longitudinal spring 37 having an end portion 38 extending around under the front pin 35 and an intermediate portion passing over. another transverse pin 39. Further, it will be noted that the rear end of thismemb-er 37 is of the same construction as the front end thereof so that the member 25 at either end of the guide 23 may bemoved from its upright position shown loan inclined position to permit the abutment 30 to pass by, one of these positions being indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 8.7

Attention here also directed to the itact that at the inside end 01?, the rack 13 a bifurcated member 40 similarto the member 28 and pivoted operating member 11 similar to the member 25 is provided, While members 4-2 and 43 similar to the members 3 1' and 37 are also provided, the member 41 being. adapted to cooperate with the members 12 and 413 as the'member 25 cooperates with the members 3 1 and 37 previously described.

In considering the operation of my improved construction, let us consider that are closed as illustrated in full lines in Fig. 1 and that the member 25 is in its upstanding position shown in Fig. 5. lVith the parts in this position it will also be understood that the n'ien'iber 11 will then occupy the position illustrated in Fig. 4. Thus when a car approaches the garage, and 1t-s abutment 3O strikes the member 25, that member will be carried inward, sliding over the member 3 1- in the guide member 23 and carrying the members connected thereto includingthemember 20 and rack 18 inwardly. As a result of this movement, the pinion 16 will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction in such manner as to .tee'd the rack 13 outwardly and thereby force -lorward the member "the links 7 in such manner as to cause the latter to swing the 'doors outward fron'i their 12 and the pivot 11 of full line position shown in Fig. 1 to the dot ted line position indicated therein. All this will occur before the member 25 reaches a position at the inner end of the guide 23 and the inner ends of the members 3-1 and 37. As soon as this position is reached, however, continued inward pressure of the. abutment 30 against the member 25 will cause that member to be rocked about its pivot and to assume a positiomthe reverse of but corresponding to the position shown in Fig.

8 wherein the member 25 depresses the end ot the spr1ng3l and thus-passes out ot the path-of the abutment 30. Obviously during this inward movement of the member and 13, the

the movement of the rack 13 will. thus cause the links 7 to be operated to close the doors while the 1110V6ll1811l3, oi the rack18 will return the member to its outermost position. it will also be apparent that a :turther inward movementoi the car wili cause the member 41 to swing about its pivot away from the abutment 30 and thus to permit the car to passto its desired position in the garage, while the spring 43 Will then return the rmlzer 11 to its normal or upright position. versely, when it is desiredto remove a car from the garage, contact of the opposite side ot' the member 30 with the opposite side of the member 4:1 will then slide that member outward on the guide 15 andby the similar inward moveresultant movement of the rack 13 and member 12 cause the members 7 to swing the doors open beforethe car reaches them; the member ll at the outer end of itstravel swinging down out of the path of the abutment 4-0 as illustrated in Fig. 8. I It will also be notedthat this outward i'novemcnt of the rack13 results in a coimterclockwise movement of the pinion 16 and an inward movement of the rack 18 and consequently of the member 25 so that as soon as the car has passed out ofthe garage its abutment 30 will strike themen'iber 25 and carry it from its innermost position on its guide 23 to its initial position the'reoinand, as a result, reverse the operation ofthe pinion l6 and causeitherack 13and member 12 to actuate the links 7 to close the doors after the car while the member 11 is simul- 7 for a carautomat-ically to open and shut the garage doors when approaching a garage and open and close the garage doors when leaving the garage, butalso to provide such av mechanism which is so disposed as to proride no impediment to car movement, the whole mechanism being disposed on the floor oi the garage and'the space in frontof the garage insuoh manner as to-enable free car movement. Attention is also directed to the fact that the mechanism is exceedingly simple and rugged and ot a type adapted to be manufactured at small expense. Further, it will be noted that it is adapted to installation in garages of a usual type without changes therein or anything other than a simple pivotal connection of the door swinging links to the doors and fastening of the elements 5 and 6 to the garage floor and the roadway in front of the doors. More particularly, it will be noted that all necessity for digging up the garage floor is obviated, thereby adapting the construction to ready installation at small expense in existing garages. It will also be observed that the disposition of the mechanism on the floor of the passageway is such that no obstacle is placed in the way of the car wheels orthe door, the vehicle being thus permitted toenter and leave normally and the door being thus permitted to extend substantially to the plane of the passageway and swing freely, the whole opening and closing mechanism being disposed substantially within the vertical limits of the door and close to the sur face of the passageway in substantially a single plane, as distinguished from prior devices requiring substantially larger space vertically either below or above the surface of the passageway. As for the car, it will also be observed thatthe mechanism required on the car to operate the same is exceedingly Slli'il plied thereto. In fact, where the construc tion of the car permits, no additional at-' tachment to the car is required. 1

lVhile I have in this application specifically described one form which my inven tion may assume in practice, it will be. undcrstood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the nvention may be. modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope or" the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

each having operative connections to 'reciproeate its 'te low and to cilect a door opening or closing operation.

Door opening and closing mechanism 4. 4 ating door in substantially a single'plane surface of the passageway and each havin a reeiproeabl e 'upsta-n din operating I le and readily adapted to be ap-" 1. Door opening and closing mechanism oniprising' peratively connected door 'ac-" u ces disposed on opposite sides member engageable for a limited time with a Wheeled vehicle at a point between its wheels and each having operative connections to reciprocate its fellow and to effect a door opening or closing operation, said last mentioned connections including aportion in the path oi the vehicle Wheels substantially in the plane of the passageway.

Door opening and closing mechanism comprising operatively connected door actuating devices disposed longitudinally of t is center 01 the passagewayin substantially a single plane, said devices including upstanding reciprocable actuating members engageable with a vehicle and releasable therefrom after a limited 1' ciprocation, and door swinging means actuated thereby and having a portion thereof in the path 01' the vehicle and substantially in the plane of the door bottom. I

a. Door opening and closing mechanism comprising aline'd operatively connected door actuating devices disposed longitudinall of the center of the passage-way inside and outside the door in substantially a single plane and operative by engagement with a wheeled vehicle at a point between its wheels, said devices including upstanding members engageablc by saio vehicle, and operative connections actuated thereby and disposed substantially within the vertical limits oi the door.

5. Door opening and closing mechanism comprising door connected units disposed iiiside and outside the door on the surface of the passage-way and operated by a moving object moving overthe latter including reciprocable operating members and swinging means reciprocable by either of the latter to swing a plurality of doors.

6. Door opening and closing mechanism comprising door connected units disposed in side and outside the door and operated a moving object and including a pair of reciprocating operatively connected operating nembers one ot which is connected to the door and both of which are simultaneously movable and inreverse directions upon 0)- eraftion oi either.

7. Door opening and closing mechanism comprising door connected units disposed inside and outside the door and operated by a moving object and including a plurality of operating members, one connected to the door and one extending longitudinally beyond the latter member and each successivedoor ly engage-able by said object and operative moving object in lu ing a plurality oi, op

era ting members successively engageable by said object, and rack and pinion mechanism :moving object including a plurality of operating men'ibers successively engageable by said object, and rack and pinion mechanism connected between, said members including a rotatable pinion and a coope 'a-ting rack movable with each member.

10. Door opening and closing mechanism comprising operating members inside and outside the door, operated by a moving object as it moves over the passageway,a rack movable bodily with each oi the same, a rotatable pinion engaging both racks, and door moving mechanism connected to one rack. I

11. Door opening andclosing mechanism comprising operz'iting members inside and outside the door as it moves over the passageway, a rack movable bodily with each of the same, a rotatable pinion engaging both racks, and door moving mechanism connected to one rack, said mechanism being disposed on the surface of the passageway.

12. Door opening and closing mechanism comprising operating members inside and outside the door as it moves over the passageway, a rack movable bodily with each. of the same, a rotatable pinion engaging bot-h racks, and door moving mechanism connected to one rack, said mechanism including members swinging a plurality of doors.

13. Door opening and closing mechanism including .a guide, an operating member movable longitudinally thereof with an objeet movable over the passageway, and means whereby said member may be depressed by said moving object at one end of its travel. I

14:. Door opening and closing mechanism including a guide, an operating member movable longitudinally thereof with an object movable over the passageway, and means whereby said member may be de pressed by said moving objectat either end of its travel. I I I 15. Door opening and closing mechanism il'icluding a, guide, an. operating member movable longitudinally thereof with an object movable over the passageway, and

means whereby said member may be depressed by said moving object at one end of its travel including a member supporting spring. I

16. Door opening and closing mechanism including a guide, an operating member movable longitudinally thereof with an ob ject movable over the passageway, and means whereby said member may be depressed by said moving object at either end of its travel including amember supporting spring having its oppositeends engageable by the member. I V V 17. Door opening and closing mechanism including a guide, a pivoted operating meme ber movable longitudinally thereof with an object movable over the passageway, and means whereby said member may be depressedby said moving object at either end I of its travel including a member support ing spring having its opposite ends engageable by the member and depressible upon a rockingmovement of the member.

18. Door opening and closing mechanism con'iprising guides disposed inside and outside the door, an operating member movable in each guide with an object moving over the passageway, and door operating mechanism connected to oi? said members and controlled by the other member.

19. Door opening and closing mechanism comprising gi'l'ides disposed in ide and outside the door, an operating member mov able in each guide with an object moving over the passageway, and door operating mechanism connected to one of said members and controlled by a movement of either member. I

20. Door opening and closing mechanism.

side the door, an operatinginember movable in each guide wlth an o-biect moving over the passageway, door operatingmechanism connected to one of said members, and means whereby movem'entot either member will operate said mechanism to open the door.

22. Door opening and closing mechanism comprising guides cisposed inside and outside the door, an operating member movable in'each guide with an object movinglover connected toone of said members, and means whereby reverse movements of either member will eltect door. V II 23. Door openineand closing l'i' echan'ism con'iprising guides disposed insidcand outside tho-door, an operating member movable reverse movements of the the passageway, door operating niechanisn'i in each guide, door operating mechanism connected to one ot'said members, and means whereby said members are moved simultaneonsly in opposite directionsbya movement of either. V

24. Dooropening and closingmechanism comprising guides disposed" inside and out side the door, an operating member movable in each guide and operatively connected to in each guide and operatively connected to the door, and means whereby after a limited movem nt in its guide each of said members may be thrown out of operative position therein by moving object and automatisally returned thereto.

26. Door opening and closing mechanism comprising guides side the door, an operating member movable in each guide and operatively connected to the door and to eliect reverse movement of its fellow, and means whereby said members may be successively engaged and moved in said guide by a moving object successively thrown out of operative position in said guide by said object and automatically returned to operative position.

27. Door opening and closing mechanism comprising guides disposed inside and outside the door, an operating member movable in each guide and operatively connected to the door and to effect a reverse movement of its fellow, and means whereby said members may be successively engaged and moved in said guides by a moving object, successively and independently thrown out of operative position in said guides by said object and automatically and independently returned to operative position.

28. Door opening and closing mechanism comprising movable operating members disposed inside and outside the door and engageable by a moving vehicle, door operating mechanism connected to a plurality of swingv ing doors and reciprocab-le longitudinally of the center line or the passageway, and operative connections whereby either operating member may be moved by said vehicle to effect reciprocation of said mechanism.

29. Door opening and closing mechanism comprising movable operating members disposed inside and outside the door and engageable by a moving vehicle, door operating mechanism connected to a pluralityof swingin doors and reciprocable longitudinally oi the center line of the passageway,

and outdisposed inside and out-- gageable by a moving and operative connections whereby either operating member may be moved by said vehicle to eii'ect a reverse movement of its fellow and reciprocation of said mechanism.

30. Door opening and closing mechanism comprising movable operating members disposed inside and outside the door and engageable by a moving vehicle,'door operating mechanism connected to a plurality of svinging doors and reciprocable longitudinally or the center line of the passageway, and operative connections whereby either operating member may be moved by said vehicle to eti'ect reciprocation of said mechanism, including mechanism whereby said operating member may be disengaged from said eliicle after a predetermined movement therewith and automatically restored to its engageable position.

31. Door opening and closing mechanism comprising movable operating members disposed inside and outside the door and engageable by a moving vehicle, door operating mechanism connected to a plurality of swinging doors and reciprocablc longitudinally of the center line of the passageway, and operative connections whereby either operating member may be moved by said vehiole to efiect a reverse movement of its fellow and reciprocation of said mechanism, includ ing mechanism whereby either of said members may be disengaged from said vehicle after a predetermined movement therewith and automatically restored to its engageable position.

32. Door opening and closing mechanism comprising movable operating members disposed inside and outside the door and envehicle, door operating mechanism connected to a plurality of swinging doors and reciprocable longitudinally of the center line of the passageway, and operative connections whereby either operating member may be moved by said vehicle to effect a reverse movement of its tellow and reciprocation of said mechanism, including mechanism whereby either oi? said members may be disengaged from said vehicle after a predetermined movement therewith and automatically restored to its engageable position, said door operating mechanism being disposed within the doors and operating to open the same outwardly.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM M. DUNMORE.

CERTIF! Patent No. 1, 658,119,

GATE OF CORRECTION.

Granted February 7, 1928, to

WILLIAM M. DUNMORE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 114, claim 6, alter the word "either" and before the period insert the Words "by said movahle object"; same page, line 122, claim 7, after the word "object" insert a comma; page 4, line 16, claim 10, after the word "deer" strike out the comma and line 124, claim 23, .and page 5, line 2, claim 24,

insert the words "with an obj 23 and 25, claim 26,

after the word "guide" ect moving over the passageway"; same page, lines for the word "guide" read "guides" and lines 23 and 25,

same claim, and line 36, claim 27, after the word "abject" insert a comma; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to Signed and sealed this 13th Seal.

the record ot' the case in the Patent ()iiice. day of March, A. D. 1928.

M. J. Moore, Acting Gommissioner 0! Patents. 

